Lee Shin-Woo wasn't an idiot. He had no intention of leading the weakened undead Giants into the fight against one of the twelve generals. That was one of the reasons Lee Shin-Woo had sent for his elites.

But there was something he had to do beforehand: helping his elites pass through the spatial wall preventing them from entering the Giants' domain, which was naturally created by the flow of mana.

"There's a solution that will screw over the Imperial Army at the same time."

"Stealing the magical device they brought to the mountain range, right?"

"Yeah, exactly."

Lee Shin-Woo tapped into Rem's vision, who was watching Metafel's troops from midair. As he talked to Jin, he surveyed every nook and cranny of the land.

Yes. There was a way to screw over Metafel's troops while getting his own troops into the vast domain without getting lost.

It involved stealing the artifact that Lee Shin-Woo assumed the Archmage had created. He had come up with this idea when he went through the enemy troops' memories.

[We'll be the ones who strike first... I like it.]

The participating Giants spoke up. Lee Shin-Woo snorted and replied.

"Ha, of course. We were attacked. You're not planning on waiting until they're at our very doorstep, are you?"

[Of course not!]

Lee Shin-Woo said provokingly, and the level 7 Sealed Titan Zombie hit the roof as if saying, 'Are you kidding me?' He was so powerful that Lee Shin-Woo wondered why he wasn't an elite.

With some effort, I think I can turn them into elites like the Pauls... I've been curious about the 'sealed' part of their names. There's something hidden within them. I don't know if it's something they've lost, or forgotten, but I'll need to give them various stimuli to find out.'

That was one of the reasons he had brought the level 7 Giants to the battlefield, but... He looked back at the two other level 7 Giants standing side by side behind the one he had just spoken to. He shook his head.

Although they had regained their intellect, they seemed to be fundamentally quite stupid; they had proposed a frontal attack when Lee Shin-Woo suggested that they attacked the Imperial Army.

"As I said, we're not going for a frontal attack. We'll attack while they're still careless, and we'll leave once we get what we want. You have to run away when I say so. That's the only way we can defeat them."

[Giants do not retreat!]

[Your words tarnish the Titan's Pride!]

Yeah, he knew this would happen. The success of this entire operation relied upon how well he could convince them. Lee Shin-Woo sighed and continued.

"Sure, feel free to do that if you'd like to exchange your entire tribe's fate for a moment's pride, but you'll lose."

[Keuk!?]

"You won't even get the opportunity to prove your Titan's Pride, and you'll even lose the Titan's Heart to them. They will get out of here with what they want while mocking you, the once brave Giants."

[Are you looking down on the Giants' will!?]

"You're the ones looking down on the Giants' will. If you want to win, follow my orders."

Lee Shin-Woo activated High Rank Command. Although he was unaware of it, his Command now allowed him to appear dignified and strong to those who weren’t his subordinates after reaching high rank.

Therefore, the Giants were instinctively intimidated and couldn’t take him lightly. Lee Shin-Woo was effectively engraving his dignified appearance into their minds forcefully.

[Keuk, I guess we have no choice...]

[I'll respect your decision this time.]

“Yeah, thanks a lot,” Lee Shin-Woo replied, his goblin fire subsiding. He'd already told them the same thing before. Whenever he convinced these damn rotten idiots, they would act like they had been persuaded, but ten minutes later, they'd forget what he'd told them!

[Master, the enemy is moving.]

"Alright. They're moving extremely slowly though..."

The enemy's compass not only nullified the spatial interference created by mana flow, but also led its user to their ultimate target... The frozen Titan's Heart.

The mountains were dangerous, so the imperial army was taking the roundabout way, but they would eventually enter the Giants' domain.

"Let’s go. We can't just let them do as they please."

[Got it.]

With the level 7 Giants persuaded, albeit temporarily, they and the rest of the Giants followed Lee Shin-Woo swiftly. They were extremely fast even though they were now zombies. What had been ingrained to them as natives of the mountains hadn’t left them. It was a good thing for Lee Shin-Woo.

"Rem, keep reporting on the enemy's movements."

[I understand.]

After a few hours of surveillance, Lee Shin-Woo found out how large Metafel's army was, their location, as well as their level distribution.

And until he'd acquired all this information, Lee Shin-Woo had not considered Metafel a serious threat. After all, Lee Shin-Woo had destroyed the Metafel's corps, led by the level 6 Corps Commander, Vitas. Moreover, Metafel was only level 7 himself!

Ugh, it'll be hard.

However, Metafel wasn't an opponent to be trifled with. Although he'd only seen him through Rem's eyes, Metafel was frighteningly strong, much stronger than he was even though they were both level 7s.

Moreover, there was a level 7 elite among his direct subordinates, as well as two level 7 elite Corps Commanders leading his troops. In other words, he would be facing one highest rank level 7 elite as well as three mid rank level 7 elites!

And there are all sorts of undead over level 6, especially their magic division. There's also the level 4 or 5 knights that command the elite level 3 troops...

The incoming army was 50,000 strong, which was so formidable a number that one would reflexively utter, 'As expected of the Mercenary King.' Lee Shin-Woo marveled at the fact that Shino Rendu had actually forced his way past the army and gotten to Metafel himself.

"Metafel's troops are currently exploring the mountain range, and are divided into dozens of groups."

"He split his men because the land wasn't suitable for moving in large groups, right?"

"Yep."

There weren't that many vast open areas in the mountains like the one he'd saved the Giant in. Most of the roads were dangerous and narrow, difficult for even two horses to walk through. If that weren't the case, Lee Shin-Woo would have to capitulate earlier.

How did the Giants move around the mountain range? The question was pretty meaningless, as a road formed wherever they set foot. Even the lowest level Giants were several meters tall, and with their overwhelming mass and stats, they could make even the most dangerous roads safe.

"Good. It's going just as I'd planned. They're exactly where I want them."

Metafel's troops were divided in a way that hundreds could move at a time. Of course, Metafel himself was in the center of his troops, but it was impossible for him to systematically respond to every single issue nearby.

"Shall we find the right route?"

[Alright.]

[A true Giant needs no plan... No, I got it. Damn it!]

"We just need to worry about a few of the corps. If they approach from here and come out like this... We just need to fight this guy, this guy, and this guy."

Though they were now rotten Giants, there were things they knew that were helpful to Lee Shin-Woo. A side road to the forest, a route that was easy to travel on, as well as where the giant boulders lay, which would make it difficult for others to move through the road!

With the information added to his minimap, he had made himself an effective topographic map. And if he were to add the info that Rem had acquired as well, it would be a piece of cake to bring into reality an infiltration operation with an exit plan.

They would break through the weakest and lax corps, earning them a way to approach their target and a way to retreat. When the two level 7 elite Corps Commanders were confused and diverted their attention, Lee Shin-Woo would steal the artifact and escape! That was Lee Shin-Woo's primary objective.

"We'll kill the first ones that we come across. You don't need to kill all of them. You just need to kill their leader."

[So you want to kill their commander.]

"And before that chaos spreads elsewhere, we'll strike the main force's...leader. After we kill him, we'll come down and regroup."

[You want me to procure an escape route.]

"That's most important."

Lee Shin-Woo's black goblin fire gazed into the Giant's rotten eyes, sharp enough to penetrate through its skull. Nothing else needed to be said. The Giant nodded in response.

[I've already told you that I'd cooperate with you in order to protect the Titan's Pride.]

[But if the result displeases us, you’ll have to repay that debt despite us following your orders.]

"Of course, do as you please."

Lee Shin-Woo snorted. He would act however he could if it meant suppressing their pride and making them follow his orders.

"Alright. We'll split up here. Move!"

[Don't betray our expectations!]

[That 'pride' you spoke of. Make sure you prove it!]

Lee Shin-Woo had used a liberal amount of mana to active Command and Instigate, and after the two Giants responded with trust, they divided into two groups and left.

One of the two groups would find a way to approach, while the other would find a retreat route. Once those two killed the weaklings and flustered Metafel, Lee Shin-Woo would seize that opportunity fair and square and take the artifact away from them!

"Jin... I'm counting on you."

"You only act serious at times like this."

"Let's go."

"...Humph!"

Jin replied curtly, yet couldn't hide his contentment as he kicked off the dangerous mountain road and began to run. Jin loved this moment the most; when Lee Shin-Woo trusted him and entrusted his body to him. Because this was the moment Jin could prove his worth through the running he was so proud of!

[Kuhahk!?]

[Giants!]

[I heard that the Giants are all weakened... Kuaaaaaahk!]

While charging, Lee Shin-Woo saw one of the low rank level 6 elites get torn apart. As expected, there was no way the Giants were regular level 7s. Even if he were to disregard 99% of what the Giants who inherited the Titan's Pride had said as lies, the Giant Tribe was still amazing!

[Kuhaaaaaaaaaaah! The Titan's... Pride!]

"Make sure you prove that remaining 1%!"

Lee Shin-Woo shared his thoughts with Jin, and Jin ran quickly. Due to the sudden appearance of the Giants, the troops were shocked and broke rank. Lee Shin-Woo whipped past them and boldly pierced through the side of the slowly moving troop protecting both the compass and Metafel.

[Hmm? To think that there would be one so foolish as to face our troops head-on... Wait a sec, this is a glacial mountain range, so how did such a small undead get here? No, what is all this fuss about anyway? All forces, calm down! Calm down and face the enemy! There's only one enemy!]

Metafel quickly noticed Lee Shin-Woo's intrusion and narrowed his eyes, but in any case, his first priority was to strike down the one who dared look down on his troops and pick a fight with them.

He angrily scolded his panicked troops. He possessed the highest level of Command amongst all the twelve generals—it had reached high rank! Even amidst Lee Shin-Woo's limitless speed, the undead troops got a hold of themselves and attempted to surround him. However...

"You idiots. Protect Sir Metafeeeeeeeeeeel!"

[What the hell is he talking about!?]

He was one step ahead of Metafel!

[A perfect Instigate! You took advantage of the opportunity and used Instigate to mislead your enemies! Instigate is now Lv7. Magic has increased by 20.]

[The enemy troops are under the effect of Lv7 High Rank Command. You will not be able to fool them for very long. If there is something you want, you must steal it immediately!]

The intruder coming out of nowhere said something absurd, leaving Metafel dumbfounded. Then an even more disconcerting situation arose.

[T-That's right! Someone has trespassed, so we have to protect Sir Metafel!]

[Sir Metafel is in danger!]

[Sir Metafel... I will protect Sir Metafel!]

[What are you doing!?]

His men, who had faithfully followed him since his mercenary days, suddenly surrounded him to protect him! Metafel was taken aback and browbeat them to get a hold of themselves, but the energy of Instigate that surrounded them wouldn't be so easily dispelled.

[Get a hold of yourselves, you idiots!]

Metafel used the high rank skill, Lion's Roar, as he gave orders, forcing his subordinates to calm down. Of course the Mercenary King would have such a skill; he was so adept at leading...

[What...?]

By the time Metafel managed to calm his troops down, push them back, and barely regain his vision, there were no traces left of the wagon his troops had been guarding so carefully… To be exact, the magical device within had vanished!